Customs officers in south China's Guangdong Province seized 236 wild animals smuggled from overseas, local authorities said Monday.
Customs authorities in Shenzhen said they intercepted a container truck at 1 a.m. on Sunday and found 165 turtles and 71 scorpions hidden in three polystyrene boxes.
The truck driver said he had received 900 yuan (130 U.S. dollars) to ship the animals to several pet shops.
The turtles are all under the protection of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the type of live scorpions involved is still being determined.
The driver was detained and the animals were handed over to the wildlife protection center in Shenzhen.
The investigation continues.
